Laurie Shaver is a woman who was just convicted of murdering her husband, Michael Shaver.
This case is filled with unexpected twists, shocking revelations, and a disturbing cover-up.
Laurie and Michael Shaver seemed like any other couple.
They were high school sweethearts who married shortly after graduation.
Michael had a steady job as a monorail technician at Disney World.
They lived on a quiet 5-acre property in Clermont, Florida, about 33 miles west of Orlando.
Although they seemed like a happy couple, their relationship started to fall apart behind closed doors.
Laurie Shaver |
In September 2014, Laurie Shaver called the police and accused Michael of domestic violence.
According to Laurie, an argument over home repairs escalated into violence.
She claimed Michael allegedly grabbed her, pushed her against a wall, and even reached for a pistol.
Michael, on the other hand, claimed Laurie initiated the fight.
He admitted to grabbing her but insisted he didn't reach for a pistol.
Michael said it was Laurie who armed herself with several firearms during their struggle.
He was arrested for domestic battery, but the charges were later dropped.
Despite this violent episode, the couple reconciled.
However, their reconciliation was short-lived, and soon Michael mysteriously vanished.
The Disappearance of Michael Shaver
On November 7, 2015, Michael Shaver was last seen by a coworker, Frank, who noticed nothing unusual.
When Frank texted him the next day and didn’t receive a response, he grew concerned.
Frank grew more concerned when a text from Michael's phone said he was quitting his job to save his marriage.
He found this very unusual.
Michael’s boss also received strange texts from Michael’s phone.
One message said he was having trouble at home and the he had travelled to Georgia.
His boss was also surprised, as that wasn’t like Michael at all.
Frank then visited the Micheal Shavers’ home to enquire about his whereabouts.
Laurie told him that Michael had left after an argument about another woman’s number in his phone.
She said a man named Robert had picked him up in a black SUV and taken him to Georgia.
Months turned into years, and Michael’s whereabouts remained a mystery.
Meanwhile, Laurie Shaver moved on with her life.
She found love again and even remarried, all while Michael's whereabouts remained unknown.
A Body Beneath the Concrete: The Start of the Investigation
In February 2018, Michael’s friend became increasingly suspicious of his disappearance.
As a result, they contacted the police to investigate further.
The police requested permission to search Laurie Shaver's property and she agreed.
However, when they asked about a concrete slab in the backyard, Laurie became uncooperative and asked them to leave.
Authorities returned a month later with a search warrant, cadaver dogs, and ground-penetrating radar.
They focused on that concrete slab and underneath it, they found Michael’s body.
It was wrapped in a fitted sheet, secured with a tarp, and buried three feet below the surface.
Michael Shaver |
The discovery of Michael’s body led to a series of shocking revelations.
Laurie Shaver had been living on the property, hiding the fact that Michael had been murdered and buried there.
Additionally, financial transactions were made from Michael’s accounts after his disappearance.
However, those purchases were delivered to Laurie's home.
Laurie even went ahead to sell Michael’s firearms and tools after his death.
Despite not hearing from her husband, she never reported him missing or attempted to contact him.
Michael Shaver |
Justice For Michael Shaver
After Michael’s body was found, Laurie Shaver was charged with second-degree murder and accessory after the fact.
The investigation revealed that Michael had been killed with a single gunshot to the back of the head.
Authorities believe he was likely killed between November 7 and November 10, 2015.
The murder weapon was believed to be a .38-caliber revolver.
Laurie Shaver had access to several of such guns at the time of Michael’s disappearance.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the case was Laurie’s attempt to make it seem like Michael was still alive.
She impersonated him on social media and sent messages to his friends and family.
Laurie even claimed that she was still in contact with him.
She told various people he was either in jail or he had started a new life.
The case took another bizarre turn when Laurie's attorney released a YouTube video in which Lori denied killing Michael.
The attorney suggested that Laurie's ’s 7-year-old daughter could have been the one who pulled the trigger.
Additionally, Laurie's ’s former lover, Jeremy Townsend, was implicated by Laurie ’s attorney as a potential suspect.
However, it was later confirmed that he was not involved and that Laurie was solely responsible for the murder.
On September 13, 2024, a jury found Laurie Shaver guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her husband, Michael Shaver.
The jury deliberated for about four hours before delivering the verdict.
However, Laurie Shaver was acquitted of a second charge of accessory after the fact.
The prosecution believes that Laurie shot her husband during a physical altercation that involved their child and her then-boyfriend.
Following the verdict, the prosecution expressed satisfaction with the jury's decision.
They emphasized that it as a step toward justice for Michael's family.
Laurie's defense attorney indicated plans to appeal.
Sentencing for Laurie Shaver is tentatively scheduled for November 25, 2024.
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